Punjabi Graduates receive special proclamations from State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka’s office
Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University gave awards and speech.

Chicago:  Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago organized it's fifth annual Punjabi youth graduation night on Sunday, June 12, 2005, at Sher-A-Punjab Banquet Hall, Devon Avenue, Chicago. More than 400 community members attended the celebration. The night was to honor the class of 2005, both high school and college. The celebration included recognition awards, key note address, delicious food, DJ music, live Punjabi Dhol, and Bhangra music party.

PCS Scholarship of $1000 to a college bound high school graduate was won by Sahib Singh Gill, who graduated from Lake Park High School in Roselle, IL.

 The $500 scholarship for the undergrad college students was won by Jasjeet Kaur Sangha of University of Maryland. The scholarships and the Graduation Night celebration was Sponsored by the chief guest Harinder Singh of MITS Inc.; Dr. Surjit S. Patheja, Dr. Robert Singh, Dr. Gurbachan S. Kapoor,  Harbans Singh Sangha, Col. Nirmal Singh Singha and Swaranjit Singh Dhillon, and co-sponsored by Joginder Singh of Sher-a-Punjab Banquets.

 State of Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka’s office represented by Nadja Lalvani provided special congratulatory proclamations to each graduate along with P.C.S. certificates.
 

The keynote speaker Jarnail Singh Lail, Vice President, Business Systems, W.W. Grainger Inc. cited his humble beginnings in the farm lands of Punjab, and fulfillment of his dreams in U.S.A. through hard work and persistence.

 “A true student never stops to learn. We learn from our parents, children, teachers, friends, and people we interact with. Learning comes only when we stay open minded in life and we keep in mind that not only we don't know everything but the answer we have may not be the best answer either,” said Mr. Jarnail Singh Lail. Mr. Lail also congratulated the students and participants for their accomplishments; and the parents for raising such fine young men and women.

Student speaker: Harpreet Kaur Khera, Assistant Attorney General of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Law Graduate from University of Michigan at Ann Arbor MI, enumerated her experiences as a student and had words of pragmatic wisdom for the new graduates. "Have fun while you learn," Ms. Khera advised. 

Special Guest: Swaran Singh Boparai, IAS, Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab, recipient of Kirti Chakra, and addressed the new graduates. Mr. Boparai was accompanied by Prof. Baltej Singh Maan, Prof. Jodh Singh a renowned professor of Sikhism, and Prof. Rajinder Singh Gill head of the university’s music department. The delegation is touring North America on a mission to raise awareness and funds for an engineering college located at Talwandi Sabo in Punjab. The college is meant to serve poor rural area students.

Irene Cualoping managing partner ENERI Communications, Ron Salazar of City of Chicago special events, Laura Reischel of Chicago Children’s museum, Nadja Lalvani Intergovernmental Affairs at office of the State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, were honored for their excellence in community service. Dr. Madan Lal Hasija, director languages department Punjab government (retired), and Colonel Nirmal Singh Singha were recognized.

Baba Daljit Singh, Swaranjit Singh Dhillon, Jaidev Singh Bhathal, Dr. Gurmukh Pal Singh, and Lakhwant Singh Komal, Professor Jaginder Singh Ramdev, and Harjinder Singh Sandhu were among those who presented trophies to the participants.

"The purpose of this program is to celebrate achievements, and encourage our community youth towards higher education. Functions like this will help form support groups, and social networks," said Onkar Singh Sangha P.C.S. president.  This event was also to honor all the performing artists of "Rangla Punjab 2005," a Vaisakhi cultural program, for their participation, hard work, and dedication to promote Punjabi culture and performing arts.

The program was organized by Onkar Singh Sangha, Jasbir Singh Palia, Bhinder Singh Pamma, Jagmeet Singh, Amarpal Singh Matharu, Amarjit Kaur Atwal, Harbir Singh Virk, Baljit Kaur Sangha, Kevin Atwal, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Manjit Singh Gill, Thakar Singh Basati, Harwinder Paul Singh Lail, Sunny Kular, and Rajinder Singh Mago.

The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit community organization devoted to promoting education, good citizenship, Punjabi culture, language, performing arts, healthy life style, and sports in the metropolitan Chicago area. For further information please contact:

PUNJABI CULTURAL SOCIETY of CHICAGO,
P.O. Box 1244, Palatine, IL 60078
Ph: 847-359-5727, Fax: 847-359-1107
e-mail to info@PCSChicago.org
PCS website www.PCSChicago.org

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• 2001: PCS held the first ever Punjabi Youth Graduation Night in Chicago land on June 8th, 2001 to honor Punjabi Graduates for their achievements. Rangla Punjab 2001 Participants were also honored at the Graduation Night. Key Note Speaker: Professor MohanBir Singh Sawhney from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.  Read all the details here  | Graduation night News